Everyone I know hates passwords. Over the years, I have never liked password managers much more than passwords themselves. They have always had special “master passwords” that you absolutely have to remember, or you might lose everything. I have found them complicated and they only seemed to work most of the time.

Starting with macOS Sequoia, Apple’s long-running system of keychains, which often felt mysterious to regular users, bloomed into a separate application that just showed up and worked without much fuss. My clients frequently asked me what a keychain was, and whether it was safe to save passwords to it. Now you are just asked to save to Apple Passwords.

For a very long time I kept using my other password manager, but it kept asking for its master password at least once a day. In fact, many of my passwords had already been syncing with all my devices because I already had iCloud Keychain turned on. In Sequoia, the whole process of saving and updating passwords became simpler. My clients started looking up and saving their passwords in… Passwords.

Why password managers matter

A password manager does two important things:
1) It remembers your passwords so you do not have to.
2) It lets you use stronger, different passwords for each account.

That second part matters. If you use the same password everywhere, one stolen password can open the door to many accounts. If your shopping password, email password, and bank password are all the same, one breach becomes a much bigger problem.

A password manager makes it realistic to use unique passwords because you do not need to memorize them. The app remembers them, fills them in when needed, and can help create strong passwords when you make a new account.

The old ways of keeping track of passwords

Before password managers became common, people usually used one of these methods (don’t cringe if you see your method below):

A handwritten list

This can be simple, but it is easy to lose, hard to update, and not available when you are away from home. It becomes a problem if someone else finds it. Also, it is usually covered with cross-outs and updates that are sometimes hard to decipher.

A document or spreadsheet

This may feel organized, but it is usually not secure unless the file is strongly protected. It is also easy to create multiple versions and forget which one is current.

My clients often feel secure because they rename the file they use for passwords and avoid using the word “password” anywhere in the document. I usually show them within a few seconds that I can still locate the file with a simple Finder search.

Browser-based password saving

Most browsers, like Safari, Chrome, and Firefox, can save passwords. This is better than trying to remember everything, but it can become confusing if different passwords are saved in different browsers. If you prefer to use another browser instead of Safari, Apple now offers Passwords extensions for some third-party browsers, including Chrome and Firefox. There are some technical hoops to jump through to get them working. It might be worth it though if you like to use Chrome. Saving your passwords in Chrome is convenient, but you are also entrusting them to Google’s password system.

A full-featured password manager such as 1Password

This can be the most powerful option, and a full-featured password manager can be excellent for people who need more features. But it can also be more than many people need, more complicated to use, and usually comes with a monthly or annual fee.

Why use Apple Passwords

Apple Passwords is not trying to be the most advanced password manager for every possible situation. Its strength is that it is built in, already part of the Apple ecosystem, and very easy to use.

Apple Passwords does not ask you to create a separate master password. On a Mac, you open it with Touch ID or your regular Mac login password.

If you use a Mac, iPhone, and iPad, Apple Passwords can keep your sign-ins available across your devices when iCloud Passwords & Keychain is turned on. When you go to a website or app, Apple can often fill in the correct username and password for you. You can also open the Passwords app directly when you want to look something up, or update a password.

The app organizes information into useful categories, including passwords, passkeys, codes, Wi-Fi passwords, and security recommendations. That makes it much easier than hunting through Safari settings or System Settings.

For many people, this is enough.

What about passkeys?

Apple passkeys make it easier to log into sites without having to enter a password. Instead, you approve the sign-in using something like Touch ID, Face ID, or your device passcode. On a Mac, you may approve the sign-in with Touch ID, your Mac login password, or another trusted Apple device.

This can be both easier and safer. I am often surprised that when I am logging into a website, if I click on Use Passkey, that is all I need to do.

Not every website supports passkeys yet, but more are adding them. Apple Passwords gives you a place to see and manage them along with your regular passwords.

For many people, the future will be a mix: traditional passwords for older sites, passkeys for newer ones, and verification codes for accounts that require extra security.

Verification codes in one place

Many accounts now use two-factor authentication. That often means that after entering your password, you also enter a six-digit code.

Some people get those codes by text message. Some use a separate authenticator app. And sometimes, the code gets sent to you in a way you can’t access it. Apple Passwords can store and generate verification codes for supported accounts, which keeps more of your sign-in process in one place.

This is closer to an authenticator app than to waiting for a code by text message.

Is Apple Passwords enough?

For many Mac users, yes.

Apple Passwords is probably enough if:

You mostly use Apple devices.

You use Safari most of the time, or you are willing to set up Apple’s browser extension for another browser.

You want something simple and built in.

You do not want another subscription.

You mainly need passwords, passkeys, verification codes, and Wi-Fi passwords.

You want an easier way to manage sign-ins without learning a more complicated password manager.

Another password manager may still be better if:

You use many different platforms.

You need advanced sharing.

You want multiple vaults.

You travel internationally and want special travel-security features.

You want to store many kinds of private records beyond website passwords.

You manage passwords for a business or team.

You want more control over organization and access.

The bottom line

Apple Passwords is not the most powerful password manager, but it may be the easiest one for many Mac users to use.

That matters more than it sounds.

The best password system is not the one with the longest feature list. It is the one you will use consistently. If Apple Passwords helps you stop reusing passwords, find your sign-ins more easily, use passkeys when available, and keep verification codes organized, it can make your online life both simpler and safer.

For many people, that is exactly the right balance.